[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 105 (Thursday, May 31, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29531-29546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-12938]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 105 / Thursday, May 31, 2001 / 
Notices  

[[Page 29531]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. 01-010N]


International Standard-Setting Activities

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice informs the public of the sanitary and 
phytosanitary standard-setting activities of the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission (Codex), in accordance with section 491 of the Trade 
Agreements Act of 1979, as amended, and the Uruguay Round Agreements 
Act, Public Law 103-465, 108 Stat. 4809. It also provides a list of 
other standard-setting activities of Codex, including commodity 
standards, guidelines, codes of practice, and revised texts. This 
notice, which covers the time periods from June 1, 2000, to May 31, 
2001, and June 1, 2001, to May 31, 2002, seeks comments on standards 
currently under consideration and recommendations for new standards.

ADDRESSES: Submit any written comments to: FSIS Docket Clerk, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Room 
102, Cotton Annex, Washington, DC 20250-3700. Please state that your 
comments refer to Codex and, if your comments relate to specific Codex 
committees, please identify those committees in your comments and 
submit a copy of your comments to the delegate from that particular 
committee. All comments submitted will be available for public 
inspection in the Docket Clerk's Office between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 
p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: F. Edward Scarbrough, Ph.D., United 
States Manager for Codex, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the 
Undersecretary for Food Safety, Room 4861, South Agriculture Building, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3700; (202) 205-
7760. For information pertaining to particular committees, the delegate 
of that committee may be contacted. (A complete list of U.S. delegates 
and alternate delegates can be found in Attachment 2 to this notice.) 
Documents pertaining to Codex are accessible via the World Wide Web at 
the following address: http://www.codexalimentarius.net. The U.S. Codex 
Office also maintains a website at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/Codex/index.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The World Trade Organization (WTO) was established on January 1, 
1995, as the common international institutional framework for the 
conduct of trade relations among its members in matters related to the 
Uruguay Round Trade Agreements. The WTO is the successor organization 
to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). U.S. membership 
in the WTO was approved and the Uruguay Round Agreements Act was signed 
into law by the President on December 8, 1994. The Uruguay Round 
Agreements became effective, with respect to the United States, on 
January 1, 1995. Pursuant to section 491 of the Trade Agreements Act of 
1979, as amended, the President is required to designate an agency to 
be responsible for informing the public of the sanitary and 
phytosanitary (SPS) standard-setting activities of each international 
standard-setting organization, Codex, International Office of 
Epizootics, and the International Plant Protection Convention. The 
President, pursuant to Proclamation No. 6780 of March 23, 1995 (60 FR 
15845), designated the U.S. Department of Agriculture as the agency 
responsible for informing the public of sanitary and phytosanitary 
standard-setting activities of each international standard-setting 
organization. The Secretary of Agriculture has delegated to the 
Administrator, Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the 
responsibility to inform the public of the SPS standard-setting 
activities of Codex. The FSIS Administrator has, in turn, assigned the 
responsibility for informing the public of the SPS standard-setting 
activities of Codex to the U.S. Codex Office, FSIS.
    Codex was created in 1962 by two U.N. organizations, the Food and 
Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). 
Codex is the principal international organization for encouraging fair 
international trade in food and protecting the health and economic 
interests of consumers. Through adoption of food standards, codes of 
practice, and other guidelines developed by its committees and by 
promoting their adoption and implementation by governments, Codex seeks 
to ensure that the world's food supply is sound, wholesome, free from 
adulteration, and correctly labeled. In the United States, the United 
States Department of Agriculture (USDA); the Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); 
and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) manage and carry out U.S. 
Codex activities.
    As the agency responsible for informing the public of the sanitary 
and phytosanitary standard-setting activities of Codex, FSIS publishes 
this notice in the Federal Register annually. Attachment 1 (Sanitary 
and Phytosanitary Activities of Codex) sets forth the following 
information:
    1. The sanitary or phytosanitary standards under consideration or 
planned for consideration; and
    2. For each sanitary or phytosanitary standard specified:
    a. A description of the consideration or planned consideration of 
the standard;
    b. Whether the United States is participating or plans to 
participate in the consideration of the standard;
    c. The agenda for United States participation, if any; and
    d. The agency responsible for representing the United States with 
respect to the standard.
    To obtain copies of those standards listed in Attachment 1 that are 
under consideration by Codex, please contact the Codex delegate or the 
U.S. Codex Office. This notice also solicits public comment on those 
standards that are under consideration or planned for consideration and 
recommendations for new standards. The delegate, in conjunction with 
the responsible agency, will take the comments received into account in 
participating in the consideration of the standards and in proposing 
matters to be considered by Codex.

[[Page 29532]]

    The United States' delegate will facilitate public participation in 
the United States Government's activities relating to Codex 
Alimentarius. The United States' delegate will maintain a list of 
individuals, groups, and organizations that have expressed an interest 
in the activities of the Codex committees and will disseminate 
information regarding United States' delegation activities to 
interested parties. This information will include the current status of 
each agenda item; the United States Government's position or 
preliminary position on the agenda items; and the time and place of 
planning meetings and debriefing meetings following Codex committee 
sessions. In addition, the U.S. Codex Office makes much of the same 
information available through its web page, http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/Codex. Please visit the web page or notify the appropriate U.S. 
delegate or the Office of U.S. Codex Alimentarius, Room 4861, South 
Agriculture Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 
20250-3700, if you would like to access or receive information about 
specific committees.
    The information provided in Attachment 1 describes the status of 
Codex standard-setting activities by the Codex Committees for the time 
periods from June 1, 2000 to May 31, 2001, and June 1, 2001 to May 31, 
2002. In addition, the following attachments are included:

Attachment 2: List of U.S. Codex Officials (includes U.S. delegates and 
alternate delegates).
Attachment 3: Timetable of Codex Sessions (June 2000 through June 2002)
Attachment 4: Definitions for the Purpose of Codex Alimentarius
Attachment 5: Part 1--Uniform Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex 
Standards and Related Texts
Part 2--Uniform Accelerated Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex 
Standards and Related Texts
Attachment 6: Nature of Codex Standards

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to better ensure 
that minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are aware of this 
notice, FSIS will announce it and provide copies of this Federal 
Register publication in the FSIS Constituent Update. FSIS provides a 
weekly FSIS Constituent Update, which is communicated via fax to over 
300 organizations and individuals. In addition, the update is available 
on line through the FSIS web page, located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov. 
The update is used to provide information regarding FSIS policies, 
procedures, regulations, Federal Register notices, FSIS public 
meetings, recalls, and any other types of information that could affect 
or would be of interest to our constituents/stakeholders. The 
constituent fax list consists of industry, trade, and farm groups, 
consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, scientific 
professionals, and other individuals that have requested to be 
included. Through these various channels, FSIS is able to provide 
information to a much broader, more diverse audience. For more 
information and to be added to the constituent fax list, fax your 
request to the Congressional and Public Affairs Office, at (202) 720-
5704.

    Done at Washington, DC on: May 14, 2001.
F. Edward Scarbrough,
United States Manager for Codex.

Attachment 1: Sanitary and Phytosanitary Activities of Codex

Codex Alimentarius Commission and Executive Committee

    The Codex Alimentarius Commission will hold its Twenty-fourth 
Session July 2-July 7, 2001, in Geneva, Switzerland. At that time it 
will consider the standards, codes of practice, and related matters 
brought to its attention by the general subject committees, commodity 
committees, and member delegations.
    Prior to the Commission meeting, the Executive Committee will meet 
June 28-29, 2001. It is composed of the chairperson, vice-chairpersons 
and seven members elected from the Commission, one from each of the 
following geographic regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and 
the Caribbean, Near East, North America, and South-West Pacific.
    The Executive Committee at its June 2000 Session considered matters 
arising from reports of Codex Committees including review of standards 
at step 5, requests for new work, and other items brought to its 
attention.
Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS
U.S. Participation: Yes

Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods

    The Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods 
determines priorities for the consideration of residues of veterinary 
drugs in foods and recommends Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for 
veterinary drugs. A Codex Maximum Limit for Veterinary Drugs (MRLVD) is 
the maximum concentration of residue resulting from the use of a 
veterinary drug (expressed in mg/kg or g/kg on a fresh weight 
basis) that is adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission to be 
permitted or recognized as acceptable in or on a food.
    An MRLVD is based on the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)* and 
indicates the amount of residue in food that is considered to be 
without appreciable toxicological hazard. An MRLVD also takes into 
account other relevant public health risks as well as food 
technological aspects.
    When establishing an MRLVD, consideration is also given to residues 
that occur in food of plant origin and/or the environment. Furthermore, 
the MRLVD may be reduced to be consistent with good practices in the 
use of veterinary drugs and to the extent that practical analytical 
methods are available.
    * Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI): An estimate by the Joint FAO/WHO 
Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) of the amount of a 
veterinary drug, expressed on a body weight basis, that can be ingested 
daily over a lifetime without appreciable health risk (standard man = 
60 kg).
    The following matters, contained in ALINORM 01/31, will be 
considered by the Codex Alimentarius Commission at its 24th Session.
    To be considered at Step 8:

Danofloxacin
Gentamicin
Imodocarb
Sarofloxacin

    To be considered at Step 5/8:

Dihydrosteptomycin/Streptomycin
Doramectin

    To be considered at Step 5:

Neomycin
Phoxim
Porcine Somatotropin
Thiamphenicol

    Priority List of Veterinary Drugs Requiring Evaluation or 
Reevaluation--Substances for which a firm commitment of data has been 
provided:

Cefuroxime sodium
Pirlimycin hydrochloride

    The Committee is continuing work on:
     Discussion paper on antimicrobial resistance.
     Draft maximum residue limits for veterinary drugs.
     Risk Analysis in the CCRVDF.
     Proposed Draft Guidelines on Residues at Injection Sites.
     Guidelines on Control of Veterinary Drug Residues in Milk 
and Milk Products.
     Criteria for Methods of Analysis and Sampling Issues.

[[Page 29533]]

     Harmonization of MRLs with CCPR, JECFA and JMPR.
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA, USDA/FSIS
U.S. Participation: Yes

Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants

    The Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants (CCFAC) (a) 
establishes or endorses permitted maximum or guideline levels for 
individual food additives, contaminants, and naturally occurring 
toxicants in food and animal feed; (b) prepares priority lists of food 
additives and contaminants for toxicological evaluation by the Joint 
FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA); (c) recommends 
specifications of identity and purity for food additives for adoption 
by the Commission; (d) considers methods of analysis for food additives 
and contaminants; and (e) considers and elaborates standards and codes 
for related subjects such as labeling of food additives when sold as 
such and food irradiation. The following matters are under 
consideration by the Commission at its 24th Session in July 2001. The 
relevant documents are ALINORMS 01/12 and 01/12A.
    Risk Analysis. The Discussion Paper entitled ``Application of Risk 
Analysis Principles to the Work of the Codex Committee on Food 
Additives and Contaminants (CCFAC) and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert 
Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)'' will be revised for circulation 
and consideration at the next session of the committee.
    Food Additives. To be considered at Step 8 by the 24th Session of 
the Codex Commission (July 2001):
     Guidelines for the Estimation of Appropriate Levels of Use 
of Food Additives to the Preamble of the General Standard for Food 
Additives (GSFA)(Annex A).
     Codex General Standard for Food Additives: Draft Food 
Additive Provisions in Table 1.
     Codex Advisory Specifications for the Identity and Purity 
of Food Additives.
    To be considered at Step 5/8 of the Accelerated Procedure by the 
24th Session of the Codex Commission (July 2001):
     Draft Amendments to Table 3 and its Annex of the Codex 
General Standard for Food Additives.
     Draft Revisions to the Codex International Numbering 
System for Food Additives.
    To be considered at Step 5 by the 24th Session of the Codex 
Commission (July 2001):
     Proposed Draft Revision to the Codex Standard for 
Irradiated Foods.
     Proposed Draft Revisions to the Codex General Standard for 
Food Additives (GSFA).
    The Committee is continuing work on:
     General Standard for Food Additives: Food Category System.
     General Standard for Food Additives: Draft Food Additive 
Provisions (in Table 1).
     Informal Quality Control Work Group--The Committee agreed 
to reinstate its small informal work group to perform a quality control 
check on the data submitted to support the food additive provisions in 
the Draft GSFA for the use of benzoyl peroxide, stearyl tartrate, 
nitrous oxide, and mineral oil.
     Proposed Draft Revised Codex Recommended International 
Code of Practice for the Operation of Irradiation Facilities Used for 
the Treatment of Food.
     International Numbering System.
     Specifications for the Identity and Purity of Food 
Additives.
     Discussion paper on the relationship between Codex 
commodity standards and the GSFA's food category system.
     Discussion paper on processing aids and additives used as 
carriers for other additives.
    Contaminants. To be considered at Step 8 by the 24th Session of the 
Codex Commission (July 2001):
     Maximum Level for Patulin in Apple Juice and Apple Juice 
Ingredients in Other Beverages.
     Maximum Levels for Lead in fruit; small fruit, berries, 
grapes, vegetables (except mushrooms, hops and herbs), brassicas, leafy 
vegetables (except spinach), cereal grains, pulses, legumes; fruit 
juices, meat (cattle, sheep, pig and poultry), fat (meat and poultry), 
vegetable oils, edible offal of cattle, pig and poultry, milk, milk 
fat, wine, and infant formulae.
     Maximum Level for Aflatoxin M1 in Milk.
     Code of Practice for Source Directed Measures to Reduce 
Contamination of Food with Chemicals.
     Guideline Level for Cadmium in cereals, pulses and legumes 
(excluding bran and germ and wheat grain, rice, soybean, and peanuts).
     Revision of the Codex Standard for Food Grade Salt: 
Packaging, Transportation and Storage.
    To be considered at Step 5/8 by the 24th Session of the Codex 
Commission (July 2001):
     Proposed Draft Revised Sampling Plan for Total Aflatoxins 
in Peanuts Intended for Further Processing.
    To be considered at Step 5 by the 24th Session of the Codex 
Commission (July 2001):
     Draft Maximum Level for Ochratoxin A in Wheat, Barley, Rye 
and derived products.
     Proposed Draft Maximum Levels for Cadmium in fruit, wheat 
grain and rice (including bran and germ), soybeans and peanuts, meat of 
cattle, poultry, pig and sheep, horse meat, and crustaceans (excluding 
lobster and brown meat of crab), vegetables (excluding leafy 
vegetables, fresh herbs, stem and root vegetables, fungi, tomatoes, and 
peeled potatoes), peeled potatoes, stem and root vegetables (excluding 
celeriac), and leafy vegetables, fresh herbs, fungi, celeriac.
    The Committee is continuing work on:
     Proposed Draft Code of Practice for the Prevention of 
Mycotoxin Contamination in Cereals, including Annexes on Ochratoxin A, 
Zearalenone, Fumonisins, and Tricothecenes.
     Proposed Draft Code of Practice for the Prevention of 
Patulin Contamination in Apple Juice and Apple Juice Ingredients in 
other Beverages.
     Draft maximum levels for lead in fish, crustaceans, and 
bivalve mollusks.
     Draft maximum levels for cadmium in liver of cattle, 
poultry, pig, and sheep, kidney of cattle, poultry, pig, and sheep, and 
mollusks.
     Discussion paper on dioxins and dioxin like PCBs.
     Proposed Draft Code of Practice for Source Directed 
Measures to Reduce Dioxin Contamination of Foods.
     Position Paper on Chloropropanols.
     Discussion paper on deoxynivalenol.
     Discussion paper on aflatoxin B1 in pistachios.
     Discussion paper on use of active chlorine.
    New work:
     Elaboration of Principles for the Exposure Assessment of 
Contaminants and Toxins in Foods (GSCTF).
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA
U.S. Participation: Yes

Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues

    The Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues recommends to the Codex 
Alimentarius Commission establishment of maximum limits for pesticide 
residues for specific food items or in groups of food. A Codex Maximum 
Residue Limit for Pesticide (MRLP) is the maximum concentration of a 
pesticide residue (expressed as mg/kg), recommended by the Codex 
Alimentarius Commission to be legally permitted in or on food 
commodities

[[Page 29534]]

and animal feeds. Foods derived from commodities that comply with the 
respective MRLPs are intended to be toxicologically acceptable, that 
is, consideration of the various dietary residue intake estimates and 
determinations both at the national and international level in 
comparison with the ADI*, should indicate that foods complying with 
Codex MRLPs are safe for human consumption.
    Codex MRLPs are primarily intended to apply in international trade 
and are derived from reviews conducted by the Joint Meeting on 
Pesticide Residues (JMPR) following:
    (a) review of residue data from supervised trials and supervised 
uses including those reflecting national good agricultural practices 
(GAP). Data from supervised trials conducted at the highest nationally 
recommended, authorized, or registered uses are included in the review. 
In order to accommodate variations in national pest control 
requirements, Codex MRLPs take into account the higher levels shown to 
arise in such supervised trials, which are considered to represent 
effective pest control practices; and
    (b) toxicological assessment of the pesticide and its residue.

    * Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of a chemical is the daily 
intake which, during an entire lifetime, appears to be without 
appreciable risk to the health of the consumer on the basis of all 
the known facts at the time of the evaluation of the chemical by the 
Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues. It is expressed in 
milligrams of the chemical per kilogram of body weight.

    The following items will be considered by the Commission at its 
24th Session in July 2001. The relevant documents are ALINORM 01/24 and 
01/24A.
    To be considered at Steps 5/8 and 8:
     Draft and Draft Revised Maximum Residue Limits.
     Proposed Draft and Proposed Draft Revised Maximum Residue 
Limits.
    To be considered at Step 5:
     Proposed Draft and Proposed Draft Revised Maximum Residue 
Limits.
    The committee is continuing work on:
     Consideration of Draft and Proposed Draft Residue Limits 
in Foods and Feeds.
     Paper on Trade Vulnerabilities Resulting from the Lengthy 
Codex MRL Process.
     Paper on Cumulative Risk Assessment Methodology.
     Paper on Acute Dietary Risk Assessment.
     Revision of Regional Diets and Information on Processing.
     Harmonization of MRL Setting for Compounds Used both as 
Pesticides and as Veterinary Drugs.
     Proposed Draft Amendments to the Guidelines on the Good 
Laboratory Practice in Pesticide Residue Analysis and the Introduction 
Section of the Recommended Methods of Analysis for Pesticide Residues.
     Revision of the List of Recommended Methods on Analysis 
for Pesticide Residues.
     Consideration of Elaboration of MRLs for Spices.
     Discussion paper on the Need for the Revision of the Codex 
Classification of Foods and Animal Feeds.
     Revision of Codex Priority Lists of Pesticides for review 
by JMPR.
Responsible Agency: EPA, USDA/AMS
U.S. Participation: Yes

Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling

    The Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling:
    (a) Defines the criteria appropriate to Codex Methods of Analysis 
and Sampling;
    (b) Serves as a coordinating body for Codex with other 
international groups working in methods of analysis and sampling and 
quality assurance systems for laboratories;
    (c) Specifies, on the basis of final recommendations submitted to 
it by the other bodies referred to in (b) above, Reference Methods of 
Analysis and Sampling appropriate to Codex Standards which are 
generally applicable to a number of foods;
    (d) Considers, amends, if necessary, and endorses, as appropriate, 
methods of analysis and sampling proposed by Codex (Commodity) 
Committees, except that methods of analysis and sampling for residues 
of pesticides or veterinary drugs in food, the assessment of 
microbiological quality and safety in food, and the assessment of 
specifications for food additives do not fall within the terms of 
reference of this Committee;
    (e) Elaborates sampling plans and procedures, as may be required;
    (f) Considers specific sampling and analysis problems submitted to 
it by the Commission or any of its Committees; and
    (g) Defines procedures, protocols, guidelines or related texts for 
the assessment of food laboratory proficiency, as well as quality 
assurance systems for laboratories.
    The relevant document is ALINORM 01/23. The following matters will 
be considered for adoption by the Commission at its 24th Session in 
July 2001.
    Proposed Amendments to the Procedural Manual:
     General Criteria for the Selection of Methods of Analysis 
Using the Criteria Approach.
     Relations between Commodity Committees and General 
Committees--Methods of Analysis and Sampling.
     Guidelines and Working Instructions to Aid the 
Implementation of the Criteria Approach to the Selection of Methods of 
Analysis for Codex Purposes.
    Guidelines for Adoption by Reference for Codex Purposes:
     Harmonized IUPAC Guidelines for the Use of Recovery 
Information on Analytical Measurement.
    New Work:
     Proposed Draft Guidelines on Measurement Uncertainty.
     Proposed Draft Guidelines for Selection Methods of 
Analysis directed to governments.
    The committee will continue work on:
     Proposed Draft Guidelines on Sampling
     Validation of Methods: Single Laboratory Validation and 
Use of Proficiency Schemes.
     Endorsement of Methods of Analysis and Sampling Provisions 
in Codex Standards.
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA, USDA/ARS
U.S. Participation: Yes

Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification 
Systems

     The Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and 
Certification Systems is charged with developing principles and 
guidelines for food import and export inspection and certification 
systems to protect consumers and to facilitate trade. Additionally, the 
Committee develops principles and guidelines for the application of 
measures by competent authorities to provide assurance that foods 
comply with essential requirements, especially statutory health 
requirements. This encompasses work on: equivalence of food inspection 
systems including equivalence agreements, processes and procedures to 
ensure that sanitary measures are implemented, and the determination of 
the judgement of equivalence; guidelines on food import control 
systems; and guidelines on food product certification and information 
exchange. The development of guidelines for the appropriate utilization 
of quality assurance systems to ensure that foodstuffs conform to 
requirements and to facilitate trade also are included in the 
Committee's terms of reference.
    The following matters will be considered by the Codex Alimentarius

[[Page 29535]]

Commission at its 24th Session. The relevant documents are ALINORM 01/
30 and 01/30A.
    To be considered at Step 8:
     Draft Guidelines for Generic Official Certificate Formats 
and the Production and Issuance of Certificates.
    To be considered at Step 5/8:
     Proposed Draft Guidelines on the Judgement of Equivalence 
of Sanitary Measures Associated with Food Inspection and Certification 
Systems.
    To be considered at Step 5:
     Proposed Draft Guidelines for Food Import Control Systems.
    New work:
     Consideration of the concept of ``Traceability'' in 
relation to food import and export inspection and certification 
systems.
     Revised Codex Guidelines for the Exchange of Information 
in Food Control Emergency Systems.
    The Committee is continuing work on:
     Proposed Draft Guidelines for the Utilization and 
Promotion of Quality Assurance Systems; and
     Proposed Draft Guidelines on the Judgement of Equivalence 
of Technical Regulations Associated with Food Inspection and 
Certification Systems.
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA, USDA/FSIS
U.S. Participation: Yes

Codex Committee on General Principles

    The Codex Committee on General Principles deals with procedure and 
general matters as are referred to it by the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission. The following will be considered by the 24th Session of the 
Commission when it meets in July 2001. The relevant documents are 
ALINORMS 01/33 and 01/33A.
    To be considered by the Commission:
     Adoption of an amendment to Rule VI.2 to the Rules of 
Procedure to clarify members' rights with respect to voting.
     Practical measures intended to facilitate consensus.
     Review of the Statement of Principles on the Role of 
Science and the Extent to which Other Factors are taken into account: 
Role of science and other factors in relation to risk analysis.
     Membership in the Codex Alimentarius Commission of 
Regional Economic Integration Organizations.
    The Committee continues to work on:
     Proposed Draft Working Principles for Risk Analysis.
     Composition of the Executive Committee and related 
matters.
     Proposed Draft Revised Code of Ethics for International 
Trade in Foods.
Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS, FDA/OC
U.S. Participation: Yes

Codex Committee on Food Labelling

    The Codex Committee on Food Labelling is responsible for drafting 
provisions on labelling issues assigned by the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission. The following items will be considered by the Commission at 
its 24th Session in July 2001. The relevant documents are ALINORM 01/22 
and 01/22A.
    To be considered at Step 8:
     Draft Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labelling 
and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods (Animal Production 
including bees and substances for use in soil and fertilizing and 
conditioning).
     Draft Amendment to the General Standard for the Labelling 
of Prepackaged Foods--(Draft Recommendations for the Labelling of Foods 
Obtained through Certain Techniques of Genetic Modification/Genetic 
Engineering) Section 4.2.2 (allergenicity) and Section 2 (Definitions).
    The Committee is continuing work on:
     Proposed Draft Amendment to the General Standard for the 
Labelling of Prepackaged Foods (Class Names)(milk protein/milk protein 
products).
     Proposed Draft Guidelines for the Labelling of Foods 
Obtained Through Certain Techniques of Genetic Modification/Genetic 
Engineering.
     Proposed Draft Amendment to the Guidelines on Nutrition 
Labelling.
     Proposed Draft Recommendations for the Use of Health 
Claims: Proposed Draft Guidelines for the Use of Nutrition and Health 
Claims.
     Proposed Draft Amendment to the General Standard for the 
Labelling of Prepackaged Foods: Quantitative Declaration of 
Ingredients.
     Discussion paper on Misleading Claims.
    Proposed new work:
     Proposed Draft Amendment to the General Standard for the 
Labelling of Prepackaged Foods: Country of Origin Labelling.
     Review of the Guidelines for the Production, Processing, 
Labelling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods (Section 5 and 
Annex 2).
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA, USDA/FSIS
U.S. Participation: Yes

Codex Committee on Food Hygiene

    The Codex Committee on Food Hygiene has three primary 
responsibilities. First, to draft basic provisions on food hygiene 
applicable to all food. These provisions normally take the form of 
Codes of Hygienic Practice for a specific commodity (e.g. bottled 
water) or group of commodities (e.g., milk and milk products). Second, 
to consider, amend if necessary, and endorse food hygiene provisions 
that are incorporated into specific Codex commodity standards by the 
Codex commodity committees. These provisions normally contain generic 
wording referencing the Recommended Code of Hygienic Practice: General 
Principles for Food Hygiene (ref: CAC/RCP 1-1969, Rev. 3-1997) and the 
Principles for the Establishment and Application of Microbiological 
Criteria for Foods (CAC/GL 21-1997) but may also include other 
provisions. Third, to provide general guidance to the Commission on 
matters relating to food hygiene. This often takes the form of 
providing general guidance documents such as the Draft Principles and 
Guidelines for the Conduct of Microbiological Risk Assessment and Draft 
Proposed Principles and Guidelines for the Conduct of Microbiological 
Risk Management. The following items will be considered by the Codex 
Alimentarius Commission at its 24th Session in July 2001. The relevant 
documents are ALINORM 01/13 and 01/13A:
    To be considered at Step 8:
     Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for Bottled/Packaged 
Drinking Waters (other than Natural Mineral Water).
     Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for the Transport of Food 
in Bulk and Semi-Packed Food.
    To be considered at Step 5:
     Code of Hygienic Practice for the Primary Production, 
Harvesting and Packing of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (including the 
sprout annex).
     Code of Hygienic Practice for Ready-to-Eat Fresh Pre-Cut 
Fruits and Vegetables as an Annex to the Code of Hygienic Practice for 
the Primary Production, Harvesting and Packing of Fresh Fruits and 
Vegetables.
    New work:
     Revision of the Code of Hygienic Practice for Eggs and Egg 
Products.
    The committee continues to work on:
     Proposed Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk and Milk 
Products.
     Proposed Draft Principles and Guidelines for the Conduct 
of Microbiological Risk Management.
     Proposed Draft Guidelines for the Control of Listeria 
monocytogenes in Foods.
     Proposed Draft Guidelines for the Hygienic Reuse of 
Processing Water in Food Plants.

[[Page 29536]]

     Proposed Draft Application of HACCP in Small and/or Less 
Developed Businesses.
     Discussion paper on Risk Profile of Antibiotic Resistance 
in Bacteria in Food.
     Discussion paper on Guidelines for Validation of Food 
Hygienic Control Measures.
     Discussion paper on Proposed Guidelines for Evaluating the 
Presence of Objectionable Matter in Food.
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA
U.S. Participation: Yes

Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

    The Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables is responsible 
for elaborating worldwide standards and codes of practice for fresh 
fruits and vegetables. The following will be considered by the 
Commission at its 24th Session in July 2001. The relevant document is 
ALINORM 01/35.
    To be considered at Step 8:
     Draft Standard for Tannia.
     Draft Standard for Papaya.
     Draft Standard for Asparagus.
     Draft Standard for Cape Gooseberry.
     Draft Minimum Juice Content Provision in the Codex 
Standard for Limes.
    To be considered at Step 5:
     Proposed Draft Standard for Cassava.
    The committee is continuing work on:
     Draft Standard for Yellow Pitahaya.
     Draft Standard for Oranges, including Guide for Use in 
Scoring Freezing Injury.
     Sizing sections of the Grapefruit, Lime, and Pummelo 
standards.
     Proposed Draft Standard for Apples.
     Proposed Draft Standard for Tomatoes.
     Proposed Draft Standard for Table Grapes.
     Proposed Draft Guide for the Quality Control of Fresh 
Fruits and Vegetables.
     Discussion paper on definitions of terms.
Responsible Agency: USDA/AMS
U.S. Participation: Yes

Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses

    The Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses 
is responsible for studying nutritional problems referred by the Codex 
Alimentarius Commission. The Committee also drafts provisions on 
nutritional aspects for all foods and develops guidelines, general 
principles, and standards for foods for special dietary uses. The 
following will be considered by the Commission at its 24th Session in 
July 2001. The relevant document is ALINORM 01/26.
    To be considered at Step 8:
     Guidelines for Use of Nutrition Claims--Draft Table of 
Conditions for Nutrient Contents (Part B containing provisions on 
Protein and Vitamin and Minerals).
    Discontinuation of work:
     Discussion paper on Provisions of Fortification on Iodine, 
Iron and Vitamin A in the Guidelines of Nutrition Claims.
    The committee continues work on:
     Guidelines for Use of Nutrition Claims--Draft Table of 
Dietary Conditions for Nutrient Claims (Part B containing Provisions on 
Dietary Fibre).
     Proposed Draft Revised Standards for Gluten-Free Foods.
     Proposed Draft Revised Standard for Processed Cereal-Based 
Foods for Infants and Young Children.
     Proposed Draft Revised Standard for Infant Formula.
     Proposed Draft Guidelines for Vitamin and Mineral 
Supplements.
     Proposed Draft Revision of the Advisory List(s) of Mineral 
Salts and Vitamin Compounds for the Use in Foods for Infants and 
Children.
     Discussion Paper on Review of Provisions for Vitamins and 
Minerals in Codex Standards: Vitamins and Minerals in Foods for Special 
Medical Purposes.
     Discussion Paper on Energy Conversion Factors.
     Discussion Paper on the Consideration of the Use of the 
Recommendations of the FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on Food Consumption 
and Exposure Assessment of Chemicals.
     Sports and Energy Drinks.
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA
U.S. Participation: Yes

Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products

    The Fish and Fishery Products Committee is responsible for 
elaborating standards for fresh and frozen fish, crustaceans and 
mollusks. The following will be considered by the 24th Session of the 
Commission in July 2001. The relevant document is ALINORM 01/18.
    To be considered at Step 8:
     Draft Standard for Crackers from Marine and Freshwater 
Fish, Crustacean and Molluscan Shellfish.
    To be considered at Step 5 of the Accelerated Procedure:
     Inclusion of additional species (Proposed Draft Amendment 
to the Canned Sardines Standard).
    To be considered at Step 5:
     Proposed Draft Standard for Salted Atlantic Herring and 
Salted Sprats.
     Proposed Draft Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery 
Products (sections 1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.9, 3 to 6 and 9).
    The committee continues or begins work on:
     Draft Standard for Dried Salted Anchovies.
     Proposed Draft Amendment to the Standard for Canned 
Sardines and Sardine-Type Products (Inclusion of an additional 
species).
     Proposed Draft Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery 
Products (other sections).
     Proposed Draft Standard for Smoked Fish.
     Proposed Draft Standard for Molluscan Shellfish.
     Proposed Draft Model Certificate for Fish and Fishery 
Products.
     Proposed Draft Standard for Live, Quick Frozen and Canned 
Bivalve Molluscs.
     Proposed Draft Amendment to the Standard for Quick Frozen 
Lobsters.
     Fish Content Definition and its Method of Determination.
     Proposed Draft Standard for Scallops.
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA, USDC/NOAA/NMFS
U.S. Participation: Yes

Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products

    The Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products is responsible for 
establishing international codes and standards for milk and milk 
products. The following will be considered at the 24th Session of the 
Codex Alimentarius Commission in July 2001. The reference document is 
ALINORM 01/11.
    To be considered at Step 8:
     Draft Group Standard for Unripened Cheese Including Fresh 
Cheese.
     Proposed Draft Revised Standard for Edible Casein Products 
at Step 5/8.
     Proposed Draft Amendment to the Codex General Standard for 
Cheese (Description) at Step 5/8.
     Proposed Draft Amendment to the Codex Group Standard for 
Cheeses in Brine (Sampling) at Step 5/8.
    The committee is continuing work on:
     Proposed Draft Revised Standard for Creams, Whipped 
Creams, and Fermented Creams.
     Proposed Draft Revised Standard for Fermented Milks.
     Proposed Draft Revised Standard for Whey Powders.
     Proposed Draft Amendment to the Codex General Standard for 
Cheese (Composition).

[[Page 29537]]

     Proposed Draft Amendment to the Codex General Standard for 
Cheese (Composition).
     Proposed Draft Amendment to the Codex General Standard for 
Cheese (Appendix on cheese rind, surface, and coating).
     Proposed Draft Revised Standard for Processed Cheese 
(minimum cheese content).
     Proposed Draft Revised Individual Standards for Cheese 
(including a new Standard for Mozzarella).
     Proposed Draft Standard for Dairy Spreads.
     Model Export Certificates for Milk Products.
    New work:
     Standard for Products in Which Milk Components are 
Substituted by Non-Milk Components:
     Evaporated Skimmed Milk with Vegetable Fat.
     Sweetened Condensed Skimmed Milk with Vegetable Fat.
     Skimmed Milk Powder with Vegetable Fat.
Responsible Agency: USDA/AMS, HHS/FDA
U.S. Participation: Yes

Codex Committee on Fats and Oils

    The Codex Committee on Fats and Oils is responsible for elaborating 
standards for fats and oils of animal, vegetable, and marine origin. 
The Committee held its 17th Session in London in February 2001. The 
relevant document is ALINORM 01/17. The following matters will be 
considered by the Codex Alimentarius Commission at its 24th Session in 
July 2001:
    To be considered at Steps 5/8:
     Amendments to the Draft Standard for Named Vegetable Oils:
     High Oleic Acid Sunflower Oil.
     High Oleic Acid Safflower Oil.
     Code of Practice for Storage and Transport of Fats & Oils 
in Bulk: List of Acceptable Previous Cargoes and of Banned Immediate 
Previous Cargoes.
    To be considered at Step 5:
     Proposed Draft Standard for Fat Spreads and Blended 
Spreads.
    To be considered by the Committee at its next session:
     Draft Standard for Olive Oils and Olive-Pomace Oils.
     Proposed Draft Amendments to the Standard for Named 
Vegetable Oils:
     Super Palm Olein.
     Mid-oleic Sunflower Oil.
     Inclusion of New Desmethysterol Data and Tocopherol and 
Tocotrienol Data for Palm Olein, Palm Stearin, Rapeseed Oil (High 
Erucic Acid) and Mustard Oil.
     Draft Standard for Fat Spreads.
     Proposed Draft Amendments to the List of Acceptable 
Previous Cargoes and of Banned Immediate Previous Cargoes.
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA, USDA/ARS
U.S. Participation: Yes

Codex Committee on Cocoa Products and Chocolate

    The Codex Committee on Cocoa Products and Chocolate is responsible 
for elaborating worldwide standards for cocoa products and chocolate. 
The 21st Session of the Commission endorsed the recommendation of the 
forty-second session of the Executive Committee to initiate the 
revision of the Cocoa Products and Chocolate Standards. The following 
standards will be considered by the 24th Session of the Commission in 
July 2001. The relevant document is ALINORM 01/14.
    To be considered at Step 8:
     Draft Revised Standard for Cocoa Butters.
     Draft Revised Standard for Cocoa (Cacao) Mass (Cocoa/
Chocolate Liquor) and Cocoa Cake, for Use in the Manufacture of Cocoa 
and Chocolate Products.
     Draft Revised Standard for Cocoa Powders (Cocoas) and Dry 
Cocoa-Sugar Mixture.
    To be considered at Step 5:
     Proposed Draft Standard for Chocolate and Chocolate 
Products.
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA
U.S. Participation: Yes

Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables

    The Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables is 
responsible for elaborating standards for Processed Fruits and 
Vegetables. After having been adjourned sine die, the Committee 
reconvened in Washington, DC, in March 1998 to begin work revising the 
standards. The following standards will be considered by the 24th 
Session of the Commission in July 2001. The relevant document is 
ALINORM 01/27.
    To be considered at step 8:
     Draft Standard for Kimchi.
     Draft Revised Standard for Canned Applesauce.
     Draft Revised Standard for Canned Pears.
    To be considered at step 5:
     Proposed Draft Standard for Canned Stone Fruits.
     Proposed Draft Guidelines for Packing Media in Canned 
Fruits.
    The Committee is continuing work on:
     Draft Codex Standard for Pickled Products.
     Draft Codex Standard for Canned Bamboo Shoots.
     Draft Codex Standard for Aqueous Coconut Products.
     Proposed Draft Revised Standards.
     Canned Tomatoes.
     Processed Tomato Concentrates.
     Soy Sauce.
     Canned Vegetables.
     Citrus Fruits.
     Insam (Ginseng).
     Guidelines for Packing Media for Canned Fruits.
    Other work:
     Methods of Analysis for Processed Fruits and Vegetables.
Responsible Agency: USDA/AMS, HHS/FDA
U.S. Participation: Yes

Codex Committee for Natural Mineral Waters

    The Codex Committee for Natural Mineral Waters (CCNMW) is 
responsible for elaborating standards for natural mineral waters. The 
Codex Alimentarius Commission at its 22nd meeting approved the 
development of a standard for bottled/packaged water other than natural 
mineral waters. The following standards will be considered by the 24th 
Session of the Commission in July 2001. The relevant document is 
ALINORM 01/20.
    To be considered at Step 5/8:
     Proposed Draft Standard for Bottled/Packaged Drinking 
Waters (Other Than Natural Mineral Waters).
     An amendment to the levels of Health Related Limits for 
Certain Substances in the Revised Codex Standard for Natural Mineral 
Waters (Codex STAN 108-1981:Rev. 1-1977) so that they would be 
consistent with the WHO Guidelines on Drinking Water.
    Other matters for the Commission:
     Committee adjourned sine die.
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA
U.S. Participation: Yes

Codex Committee on Sugars

    The Codex Committee on Sugars elaborated standards for all types of 
sugars and sugar products. The Committee was adjourned sine die, but 
was asked to revise the standards for sugar and honey. The Committee 
prepared the revised standard for sugar by correspondence. At its 23rd 
Session, the Codex Alimentarius Commission adopted the Draft Revised 
Standard for Sugar with the exception of the levels of arsenic and lead 
that will be reviewed by CCFAC. However, the Committee decided that it 
could not prepare a Draft Revised Standard for Honey by correspondence. 
The United Kingdom

[[Page 29538]]

convened a Session of the Committee in London, England, on February 9-
11, 2000 to discuss the Draft Revised Standard for Honey. The following 
standard will be considered by the 24th Session of the Commission in 
July 2001. The relevant document is ALINORM 01/25.
    To be considered at Step 8:
     Draft Revised Standard for Honey.
     Proposed Amendments to the Revised Codex Standard for 
Sugars:
    (1) Definition of Raw Cane Sugar and Soft Sugars.
    (2) Food Additives and Contaminants.
    (3) Methods of Analysis for inclusion in the Standard.
    New work:
     Amendment to the Codex Standard for Sugar.
     Development of a Standard for Unifloral Honey.
     Completion of an addendum to the Standard for Honey 
covering industrial uses.
Responsible Agency: USDA/ARS, HHS/FDA
U.S. Participation: Yes

Certain Codex Commodity Committees \1\

    Several Codex Alimentarius Commodity Committees have adjourned sine 
die. The following Committees fall into this category:

 Cereals, Pulses and Legumes*
    Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA, USDA/GIPSA
    U.S. Participation: Yes
Meat Hygiene
    Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS
    U.S. Participation: Yes
 Soups and Broths
    Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS
    U.S. Participation: Yes
 Vegetable Proteins
    Responsible Agency: USDA/ARS, HHS/FDA
    U.S. Participation: Yes

    \1\ Adjourned sine die. The main tasks of these Committees are 
completed. However, the committees may be called to meet again if 
required.
    * There is no planned activity for this Committee in the next 
year.

    Brief reports on activities of the Codex Committees on Meat 
Hygiene, Soups and Broths, and Vegetable Proteins follows:

Codex Committee on Meat Hygiene

    As a result of several years of work, the Codex Committee on Meat 
Hygiene elaborated worldwide standards and/or codes of practice as were 
appropriate for meat hygiene. The Committee adjourned sine die in 1993. 
The 47th Session of the Executive Committee welcomed a proposal from 
New Zealand that the Committee be reactivated and recommended that the 
work and terms of reference of the Committee be expanded to include 
reference to poultry, as a Codex committee had never addressed poultry 
hygiene. It was proposed that the next session be held in late 2001 or 
early 2002. The Commission will consider this recommendation when it 
meets in July 2001.
Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS
U.S. Participation: Yes

Codex Committee on Soups and Broths

    The Codex Committee on Soups and Broths elaborated worldwide 
standards for soups, broths, bouillons and consommes. The Committee 
adjourned sine die. The main tasks of the Committee were completed. 
However, at its June 1997 meeting, the Codex Alimentarius Commission 
requested that the Committee commence work revising the Standard for 
Bouillons and Consommes. A Draft Revised Standard for Bouillons and 
Consommes was approved at Step 5 by the Executive Committee at its 47th 
Session and was circulated at Step 6 for consideration in advance of 
the next Commission session. The relevant document is ALINORM 01/29.
Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS
U.S. Participation: Yes

Codex Committee on Vegetable Proteins

    The Codex Committee on Vegetable Proteins elaborated worldwide 
standards for vegetable protein products deriving from any member of 
the plant kingdom. The Committee was adjourned sine die in 1989. The 
Codex Alimentarius Commission at its 23rd Session requested that the 
Committee undertake a revision of the Codex Standard for Wheat Gluten. 
A Proposed Draft Standard for Wheat Protein Products was circulated to 
member countries and other interested parties for comment at Step 3. It 
was adopted by the 47th Session of the Executive Committee at Step 5 
and was circulated at Step 6 for consideration in advance of the next 
Commission session.
Responsible Agency: USDA/ARS, HHS/FDA
U.S.Participation: Yes

Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Foods Derived From Biotechnology

    The Commission, at its 23rd Session, established this Task Force to 
develop standards, guidelines, or recommendations, as appropriate, for 
foods derived from biotechnology or traits introduced into foods by 
biotechnology, on the basis of scientific evidence, risk analysis and 
having regard, where appropriate, to other legitimate factors relevant 
to the health protection of consumers and the promotion of fair trade 
practices. The relevant documents are ALINORMS 01/34 and 01/34A. The 
following items have been forwarded to the Commission for its 
consideration at its 24th Session in July 2001.
    To be considered at Step 5:
     Proposed Draft General Principles for the Risk Analysis of 
Foods Derived from Modern Biotechnology.
     Proposed Draft Guideline for the Conduct of Safety 
Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant DNA Plants.
    New work:
     Proposed Draft Guidelines for the Conduct of Food Safety 
Assessment of Recombinant DNA Microorganisms.
    The Task Force will continue work on:
     Discussion Paper on Traceability.
     Consideration of Analytical Methods.
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA, USDA/APHIS
U.S. Participation: Yes

Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Animal Feeding

    The Commission at its 23rd Session established the Task Force to 
develop guidelines or standards as appropriate on Good Animal Feeding 
practices. The relevant documents are ALINORMS 01/38 and 01/38A. The 
task force discussed the following items:
     Revised Draft Code of Practice for Good Animal Feeding.
     Information paper compiling a list of internationally 
available standards and validated methods for the examination of 
feeding stuffs.
     Information paper on lists established by different 
governments to control the use of prohibited and undesirable substances 
in animal feeding stuffs or other approaches.
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA/CVM, USDA/APHIS
U.S. Participation: Yes

Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Fruit and Vegetable Juices

    The Commission at its 23rd Session established this Task Force to 
revise and consolidate the existing Codex standards and guidelines for 
fruit and vegetable juices and related products, giving preference to 
general standards. These standards were originally developed by the 
Joint UNECE/Codex Group of Experts on the Standardization

[[Page 29539]]

of Fruit Juices, which had been abolished by its parent organizations. 
The Task Force held its first session in Brasilia, Brazil, September 
18-22, 2000. It will hold a second session in Rio de Janeiro, date to 
be announced. The reference document is ALINORM 01/39.
    The committee will be working on:
     Proposed Draft Codex General Standard for Fruit Juices and 
Nectars.
     Proposed Draft Revised Codex General Standard for 
Vegetable Juices.
     Methods of Analysis and Sampling for Fruit and Vegetable 
Juices and Nectars.
Responsible Agency: HHS/FDA, USDA/AMS
U.S. Participation: Yes

FAO/WHO Regional Coordinating Committees

    The Codex Alimentarius Commission is made up of an Executive 
Committee, as well as approximately 30 subsidiary bodies. Included in 
these subsidiary bodies are coordinating committees for groups of 
countries located in proximity to each other who share common concerns. 
There are currently six Regional Coordinating Committees:
     Coordinating Committee for Africa.
     Coordinating Committee for Asia.
     Coordinating Committee for Europe.
     Coordinating Committee for Latin America and the 
Caribbean.
     Coordinating Committee for the Near East.
     Coordinating Committee for North America and the South-
West Pacific.
    The United States participates as an active member of the 
Coordinating Committee for North America and the South-West Pacific, 
and is informed of the other coordinating committees through meeting 
documents, final reports, and representation at meetings. Each regional 
committee:
     Defines the problems and needs of the region concerning 
food standards and food control;
     Promotes within the committee contacts for the mutual 
exchange of information on proposed regulatory initiatives and problems 
arising from food control and stimulates the strengthening of food 
control infrastructures;
     Recommends to the Commission the development of world-wide 
standards for products of interest to the region, including products 
considered by the committee to have an international market potential 
in the future; and
     Exercises a general coordinating role for the region and 
such other functions as may be entrusted to it by the Commission.

Codex Coordinating Committee for North America and the South--West 
Pacific

    The Coordinating Committee is responsible for defining problems and 
needs concerning food standards and food control of all Codex member 
countries of the region. The Sixth Session of the Committee was held in 
December 2000, in Perth, Australia. The relevant document is ALINORM 
01/32. Agenda topics included the following:
     Review of acceptance and promotion of Codex standards by 
countries in the region;
     Activities related to economic integration and 
harmonization of food legislation in the region;
     Activities related to the application of risk analysis;
     Promotion of Codex activities in the Region;
     Activities of national Codex contact points and national 
Codex committees in the region;
     Consumer participation in the work of Codex;
     Report on activities related to biotechnology;
     Codex Strategic Vision and Medium Term Plan 2003-2007;
     Trade vulnerabilities resulting from the lengthy Codex MRL 
process; and
     Codex Ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Animal 
Feeding.
Responsible Agency: USDA/FSIS
U.S. Participation: Yes

Attachment 2

U.S. Codex Alimentarius Officials

Codex Committee Chairpersons
Codex Committee on Food Hygiene
Dr. I. Kaye Wachsmuth, Deputy Administrator, Office of Public Health 
and Science, Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Room 341-E, Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700, Phone #: (202) 720-
2644, Fax # (202) 690-2980, E-mail: [email protected]

Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables

Mr. David L. Priester, Head, Standardization Section, AMS Fruit & 
Vegetable Programs, Fresh Products Branch, USDA Stop 0140, Room 2049-S, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0240, Phone #: (202) 
720-2185, Fax #: (202) 720-8871, E-mail: [email protected]

Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods
Dr. Stephen F. Sundlof, Director, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Food 
and Drug Administration, 7500 Standish Place (HFV-1), Rockville, MD 
20855, Phone #: (301) 594-1740, Fax #: (301) 594-1830, E-mail: 
[email protected]

Codex Committee on Cereals, Pulses and Legumes (adjourned sine die)
Mr. Steven N. Tanner, Director, Technical Services Division, Grain 
Inspection, Packers & Stockyards, Administration, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 10383 N. Executive Hills Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64153-
1394, Phone #: (816) 891-0401, Fax #: (816) 891-0478, E-mail: 
[email protected]

Listing of U.S. Delegates and Alternate Delegates--Worldwide 
General Subject Codex Committees

Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (Host 
Government--United States)

U.S. Delegate: Dr. Steven D. Vaughn, Director, Division of Therapeutic 
Drugs for Food Animals, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Food and Drug 
Administration, 7500 Standish Place HFV-130, Rockville, MD 20855, Phone 
#: (301) 827-7584, Fax #: (301) 592-2297, E-mail: [email protected]
Alternate Delegate: Dr. Richard Ellis, Special Assistant, Office of the 
Deputy Administrator, Office of Public Health and Science, Food Safety 
and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 322 
Aerospace Center, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-
3700, Phone #: (202) 690-6474, Fax #: (202) 690-6557, E-mail: 
[email protected]

Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants (Host Government--
The Netherlands)

U.S. Delegate: Dr. Terry C. Troxell, Director, Office of Plant and 
Dairy Foods and Beverages, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition 
(HFS-300), Food and Drug Administration, 200 C Street, SW, Washington, 
DC 20204, Phone #: (202) 205-4064, Fax #: (202) 205-4422, E-mail: 
[email protected]
Alternate Delegate: Dr. Dennis M. Keefe, Office of Premarket Approval, 
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-200), Food and Drug 
Administration, 200 C Street, SW, Washington, DC 20204, Phone #: (202) 
418-3113, Fax #: (202) 418-3131, E-mail: [email protected]

[[Page 29540]]

Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (Host Government--The 
Netherlands)

U.S. Delegate: Mr. Edward Zager, Associate Director, Health Effects 
Division, Office of Pesticide Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 
20460, Phone #: (703) 305-5035, Fax #: (703) 305-5147, E-mail: 
[email protected]
Alternate Delegate: Dr. Robert Epstein, Associate Deputy Administrator, 
Science and Technology, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department 
of Agriculture, P.O. Box 96456, Room 3522S, Mail Stop 0222, Washington, 
DC 20090, Phone #: (202) 720-2158, Fax #: (202) 720-1484, E-mail: 
[email protected]

Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling (Host Government--
Hungary)

U.S. Delegate: Dr. Gregory Diachenko, Director, Division of Product 
Manufacture and Use, Office of Premarket Approval, Center for Food 
Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, 200 C 
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20204, Phone #: (202) 205-5320, Fax #: (202) 
401-8531, E-mail: [email protected]
Alternate Delegate: Dr. Thomas Whitaker, Senior Scientist, Agricultural 
Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 124 Weaver 
Laboratory, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, Phone #: 
(919) 515-6731, Fax #: (919) 515-7760, E-mail: [email protected]

Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Certification and Inspection 
Systems (Host Government--Australia)

Delegate: Mr. L. Robert Lake, Director, Office of Regulations and 
Policy (HFS-4), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 200 C Street, SW, 
Washington, DC 20204, Phone #: (202) 205-4160, Fax #: (202) 401-7739, 
E-mail: [email protected]
Alternate Delegate: Mr. Mark Manis, Director, International Policy 
Staff, Office of Policy, Program Development, and Evaluation, Food 
Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 
4434, South Agriculture Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 
Washington, DC 20250-3700, Phone #: (202) 720-6400, Fax #: (202) 720-
7990, E-mail: [email protected]

Codex Committee on General Principles (Host Government--France)

Delegate: Note: A member of the Steering Committee heads the delegation 
to meetings of the General Principles Committee.

Codex Committee on Food Labelling (Host Government--Canada)

Delegate: Dr. Christine Lewis, Director, Office of Nutritional 
Products, Labeling, and Dietary Supplements, Center for Food Safety and 
Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, 200 C Street, SW (HFS-
800), Washington, DC 20204, Phone #: (202) 205-4561, Fax #: (202) 205-
4594, E-mail: [email protected]
Alternate Delegate: Dr. Robert Post, Director, Labeling and Consumer 
Protection Staff, Office of Policy, Program Development and Evaluation, 
Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Room 602, 300 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700, Phone #: 
(202) 205-0279, Fax #: (202) 205-3625, E-mail: [email protected]

Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (Host Government--United States)

Delegate: Dr. Robert Buchanan, Director, Office of Science, Center for 
Food Science and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration 200 C 
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20204, Phone #: (202) 205-4970, Fax #: (202) 
205-7740, E-mail: [email protected]
Alternate Delegate: Dr. H. Michael Wehr (acting), Office of Constituent 
Operations, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Room 5826 (HFS-550), 200 
C St. SW, Washington, DC 20204, Phone #: (202) 260-2786, Fax #: (202) 
401-7739, E-mail: [email protected]

Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (Host 
Government--Germany)

Delegate: Dr. Elizabeth Yetley, FDA Lead Scientist for Nutrition (HFS-
450), Food and Drug Administration, 200 C Street, SW, Washington, DC 
20204, Phone #: (202) 205-4848, Fax #: (202) 205-5295, E-mail: 
[email protected]
Alternate Delegate: Dr. Christine Lewis, Director, Office of 
Nutritional Products, Labeling, and Dietary Supplements, Center for 
Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, 200 C 
Street, SW (HFS-800), Washington, DC 20204, Phone #: (202) 205-4561, 
Fax #: (202) 205-4594, E-mail: [email protected]

Worldwide Commodity Codex Committees

Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (Host Government--
Mexico)

Delegate: Mr. David L. Priester, Head, Standardization Section, 
International Standards Coordinator, Fruit & Vegetable Programs, 
Agricultural Marketing Service, Room 2069, South Agriculture Building, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250, Phone #: (202) 720-
2184, Fax #: (202) 720-0016, E-mail: [email protected]
Alternate Delegate: Mr. Larry B. Lace, Branch Chief, Fresh Products 
Branch, Fruit & Vegetable Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Room 2049, South Agriculture Building, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250, Phone #: (202) 720-5870, 
Fax #: (202) 720-0393, E-mail: [email protected]

Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products (Host Government--Norway)

Delegate: Mr. Philip C. Spiller, Director, Office of Seafood, (HFS-400) 
VERB, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug 
Administration, 200 C Street, SW, Washington, DC 20204, Phone #: (202) 
418-3133, Fax #: (202) 418-3198, E-mail: [email protected]
Alternate Delegate: Mr. Samuel W. McKeen, Director, Office of Trade and 
Industry Services, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
NMFS, 1335 East-West Highway, Room 6490, Silver Spring, MD 20910, Phone 
#: (301) 713-2351, Fax #: (301) 713-1081, E-mail: 
[email protected]

Codex Committee on Cereals, Pulses and Legumes (Host Government--United 
States)

Delegate: Mr. Charles W. Cooper, Director, International Activities 
Staff, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Room 5823 (HFS-
585), Food and Drug Administration, 200 C Street, SW, Washington, DC 
20204, Phone #: (202) 205-5042, Fax #: (202) 401-7739, E-mail: 
[email protected]
Alternate Delegate: Mr. David Shipman, Deputy Administrator, Federal 
Grain Inspection Division, Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyards 
Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 1661, South 
Agriculture Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 
20250, Phone #: (202) 720-9170, Fax #: (202) 205-9237, E-mail: 
[email protected]

[[Page 29541]]

Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products (Host Government--New 
Zealand)

Delegate: Mr. Duane Spomer, Chief, Dairy Standardization Branch, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Room 2750, 
South Agriculture Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, 
DC 20250, Phone #: (202) 720-9382, Fax #: (202) 720-2643, E-mail: 
[email protected]
Alternate Delegate: Mr. John C. Mowbray, Division of Programs and 
Policy Enforcement, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-
306), Food and Drug Administration, 200 C Street, SW, Washington, DC 
20204, Phone #: (202) 205-1731, Fax #: (202) 205-4422, E-mail: 
[email protected]

Codex Committee on Fats and Oils (Host Government--United Kingdom)

Delegate: Mr. Charles W. Cooper, Director, International Activities 
Staff (HFS-585), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Room 
5823 (HFS-585), Food and Drug Administration, 200 C Street, SW, 
Washington, DC 20204, Phone #: (202) 205-5042, Fax #: (202) 401-7739, 
E-mail: [email protected]
Alternate Delegate: Ms. Kathleen Warner (Acting), U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1815 N. University Street, Peoria, IL 61604, Phone #: 
(309) 681-6584, Fax #: (301) 681-6668, E-mail: 
[email protected]

Codex Committee on Cocoa Products and Chocolate, (Host Government--
Switzerland)

U.S. Delegate: Mr. Charles W. Cooper, Director, International 
Activities Staff, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Room 
5823 (HFS-585), Food and Drug Administration, 200 C Street, SW, 
Washington, DC 20204, Phone #: (202) 205-5042, Fax #: (202) 401-7739, 
E-mail: [email protected]
Alternate Delegate: Dr. Michelle Smith, Food Technologist, Office of 
Plant and Dairy Foods and Beverages, Center for Food Safety and Applied 
Nutrition (HFS-306), 200 C Street, SW, Washington, DC 20204, Phone #: 
(202) 205-2975, Fax #: (202) 205-4422, E-mail: [email protected]

Codex Committee on Sugars (Host Government--United Kingdom)

Delegate: Dr. Thomas L. Tew, Research Geneticist, Sugarcane Research 
Unit, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, 5883 USDA Road, Houma, LA 
70360, Phone #: (504) 872-5042, Fax #: (504) 868-8369, E-mail: 
[email protected]
Alternate Delegate: Dr. Dennis M. Keefe, Office of Premarket Approval, 
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-200), Food and Drug 
Administration, 200 C Street, SW, Washington, DC 20204, Phone #: (202) 
418-3113, Fax #: (202) 418-3131, E-mail: [email protected]

Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables (Host Government--
United States)

Delegate: Mr. James Rodeheaver, Chief, Processed Products Branch, Fruit 
& Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department 
of Agriculture, Room 0709, South Agriculture Building, Washington, DC 
20250, Phone: (202) 720-4693, Fax: (202) 690-1527, E-mail: 
[email protected]
Alternate Delegate: Mr. Charles W. Cooper, Director, International 
Activities Staff, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Room 
5823 (HFS-585) Food and Drug Administration, 200 C Street, SW, 
Washington, DC 20204, Phone #: (202) 205-5042, Fax #: (202) 401-7739, 
E-mail: [email protected]

Codex Committee on Soups and Broths (Host Government--Switzerland)

Delegate: Mr. Charles Edwards, Director, Technology Program Development 
Staff, Office of Policy, Program Development and Evaluation, Food 
Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 
405, 300 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20250, Phone #: (202) 205-
0675, Fax #: (202) 205-0080, E-mail: [email protected]
Alternate Delegate: Dr. Robert Post, Director, Labeling and Consumer 
Protection Staff, Office of Policy, Program Development and Evaluation, 
Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Room 602, 300 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20250, Phone #: (202) 
205-0279, Fax #: (202) 205-3625, E-mail: [email protected]

Codex Committee on Vegetable Proteins (Host Government--Canada)

U.S. Delegate: Dr. Wilda H. Martinez, Area Director, ARS North Atlantic 
Area Sciences, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, 600 E. Mermaid 
Lane, Wynwood, PA 19038, Phone #: (215) 233-6593, Fax #: (215) 233-
6719, E-mail: [email protected]
Alternate Delegate: Dr. Jeanne Rader, Director, Division of Research 
and Applied Technology, Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling and 
Dietary Supplements, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food 
and Drug Administration, 200 C Street, SW, Washington, DC 20204, Phone 
#: (202) 205-5375, Fax #: (202) 205-4594, E-mail: [email protected]

Codex Committee on Meat Hygiene (Host Government--New Zealand)

Delegate: Dr. John Prucha, Assistant Deputy Administrator, Program 
Coordination and Evaluation, Office of Policy, Program Development, and 
Evaluation, Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Room 4866, South Agriculture Building, Washington, DC 
20250, Phone #: (202) 720-3473, Fax #: (202) 690-3856, E-mail: 
[email protected]
Alternate Delegate: Dr. Bonnie Buntain, Acting Assistant Deputy 
Administrator, Office of Public Health and Safety, Food Safety and 
Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Mail drop 343 
Aerospace Building, 3rd Floor, Room 333, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 
Washington, DC 20250, Phone: (202) 690-6556, Fax: (202) 690-6557, E-
mail: [email protected]

Codex Committee on Natural Mineral Waters (Host Government--
Switzerland)

Delegate: Dr. Terry C. Troxell, Director, Office of Plant and Dairy 
Foods and Beverages (HFS-300), Center for Food Safety and Applied 
Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, 200 C Street, SW, Washington, 
DC 20204, Phone #: (202) 205-5321, Fax #: (202) 205-4422, E-mail: 
[email protected]
Alternate Delegate: Ms. Shellee Anderson, Division of Programs and 
Policy Enforcement (HFS-306), Center for Food Safety and Applied 
Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, 200 C Street, SW, Washington, 
DC 20204, Phone #: (202) 205-4681, Fax #: (202) 205-4422, E-mail: 
[email protected]

Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Forces

AD HOC Intergovernmental Task Force on Fruit and Vegetable Juices (Host 
government--Brazil)

Delegate: Mr. Martin Stutsman, Office of Plant and Dairy Foods and 
Beverages (HFS-306), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food 
and Drug Administration, 200 C St. SW, Washington, DC 20204, Phone: 
(202) 260-1949, Fax: (202) 205-4422, E-mail: [email protected]
Alternate Delegate: Mr. David Priester, Head, Standardization Section, 
International Standards Coordinator,

[[Page 29542]]

Fruit & Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, Room 2069, 
South Agriculture Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, 
DC 20250, Phone #: (202) 720-2184, Fax #: (202) 720-0016, E-mail: 
[email protected]

AD HOC Intergovernmental Task Force on Foods, Derived From 
Biotechnology (Host government--Japan)

Delegate: L. Robert Lake, Director, Office of Regulations and Policy, 
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-4), Food and Drug 
Administration, 200 C St. SW, Washington, DC 20204, Phone: (202) 205-
4160, Fax: (202) 401-7739, E-mail: [email protected]
Alternate Delegate: Dr. Sally L. McCammon, Science Advisor to the 
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 4700 River Road (Unit 98), Riverdale, MD 
20737, Phone (301) 734-5761, Fax: (301) 734-5992, E-mail: 
[email protected]

AD HOC Intergovernmental Task Group On Animal Feeding (Host 
government--Denmark)

Delegate: Dr. Stephen F. Sundlof, Director, Center for Veterinary 
Medicine, Food and Drug Administration, 7500 Standish Place (HFV-1), 
Metro Park N. 4, Rockville, MD 20855, Phone: (301) 827-2950, Fax: (301) 
827-4401, E-mail: [email protected]
Alternate Delegate: Dr. Alejandro B. Thiermann, Regional Director for 
Europe, Africa and the Middle East, FAS/USEU, US Department of 
Agriculture, PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710, Phone: (322) 508-2762, Fax: 
(322) 511-0918, E-mail: [email protected]

Subsidiary Bodies of The Codex Alimentarius

    There are six regional coordinating committees:

Coordinating Committee for Africa
Coordinating Committee for Asia
Coordinating Committee for Europe
Coordinating Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean
Coordinating Committee for the Near East
Coordinating Committee for North America and the South-West Pacific

Contact: Mr. Patrick Clerkin, Associate Manager, U.S. Codex Office, 
Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Room 4861, South Agriculture Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 
Washington, DC 20250, Phone #: (202) 205-7760, Fax #: (202) 720-3157,
E-mail: [email protected]

Attachment 3

Timetable of Codex Sessions (June 2000 through June 2002)

2000:
  CX 722-24           Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery  5-9 June                    Alesund
                       Products (24th Session)
  CX 803-01           ad hoc Intergovernmental Codex Task  13-15 June                  Copenhagen
                       Force on Animal Feeding
  CX 720-22           Codex Committee on Nutrition and     19-23 June                  Berlin
                       Foods for Special Dietary Uses
                       (22nd Session)
  CX 702-47           Executive Committee of the Codex     28-30 June                  Geneva
                       Alimentarius Commission (47th
                       Session)
  CX 713-20           Codex Committee on Processed Fruits  11-15 September             Washington, DC
                       and Vegetables (20th Session)
  CX 801-01           ad hoc Intergovernmental Codex Task  18-22 September             Brasilia
                       Force on Fruit Juices (1st
                       Session)
  CX 706-22           Codex Regional Coordinating          3-6 October                 Madrid
                       Committee for Europe
  CX 731-09           Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and  9-13 October                Mexico City
                       Vegetables (9th Session)
  CX 712-33           Codex Committee on Food Hygiene      23-27 October               Washington, DC
                       (33rd Session)
  CX 719-07           Codex Committee on Natural Mineral   30 October-                 Fribourg
                       Waters (7th Session)                  1 November
  CX 708-18           Codex Committee on Cocoa Products    2-4 November                Fribourg
                       and Chocolate (18th Session)
  CX 707-14           Codex Regional Coordinating          27-30 November              Entebbe
                       Committee for Africa (14th
                       Session)
  CX 732-06           Codex Regional Coordinating          5-8 December                Perth
                       Committee for North America and
                       the South-West Pacific (6th
                       Session)
2001:
  CX 734-01           Codex Regional Coordinating          29 January-                 Cairo
                       Committee for the Near East           1 February
  CX 725-12           Codex Regional Committee for Latin   13-16 February              Santo Domingo
                       America and the Caribbean (12th
                       Session)
  CX 709-17           Codex Committee of Fats and Oils     19-23 February              London
                       (17th Session)
  CX 715-23           Codex Committee on Methods of        26 February-                Budapest
                       Analysis and Sampling (23rd           2 March
                       Session)
  CX 711-33           Codex Committee on Food Additives    12-16 March                 The Hague
                       and Contaminants (33rd Session)
  CX 803-02           ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force  19-21 March                 Copenhagen
                       on Animal Feeding
  CX 718-33           Codex Committee on Pesticide         2-7 April                   The Hague
                       Residues (33rd Session)
  CX 716-16           Codex Committee on General           23-27 April                 Paris
                       Principles (16th Session)
  CX 714-29           Codex Committee on Food Labelling    30 April-4 May              Ottawa
                       (29th Session)
  CX 702-48           Executive Committee of the Codex     28-29 June                  Geneva
                       Alimentarius Commission (48th
                       Session)
  CX 701-24           Codex Alimentarius Committee (24th   2-7 July                    Geneva
                       Session)
  CX 708-19           Codex Committee on Cocoa Products    3-5 October                 Fribourg
                       and Chocolate (19th Session)
  CX 712-23           Codex Committee on Food Hygiene      8-13 October                Bangkok
                       (34th Session)

[[Page 29543]]

 
  CX 720-23           Codex Committee for Nutrition and    26-30 November              Berlin
                       Foods for Special Dietary uses
                       (23rd Session)
  CX 730-13           Codex Committee on Residues of       4-7 December                Charleston, SC
                       Veterinary Drugs in Foods (13th
                       Session)
2002:
  CX 731-10           Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and  28 January-                 Mexico City
                       Vegetables (10th Session)             1 February
  CX 723-8            Codex Committee on Meat Hygiene      18-22 February              Wellington
                       (8th Session)
  CX 733-10           Codex Committee on Food Import and   25 February-                Canberra
                       Export Certification and              1 March
                       Inspection Systems (10th Session)
  CX 802-03           ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force  4-8 March                   Kyoto
                       on Biotechnology (3rd Session)
  CX 711-34           Codex Committee on Food Additives    11-15 March                 The Hague
                       and Contaminants (34th Session)
  CX 803-03           ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force  18-20 March                 Copenhagen
                       on Animal Feeding (3rd Session)
  CX 703-05           Codex Committee on Milk and Milk     8-12 April                  Wellington
                       Products (5th Session)
  CX 716-17           Codex Committee on General           15-19 April                 Paris
                       Principles (17th Session)
  CX 801-02           ad hoc Intergovernmental Task Force  23-26 April                 Brasilia
                       on Fruit Juice (2nd Session)
  CX 714-30           Codex Committee on Food Labelling    6-10 May                    Ottawa
                       (30th Session)
  CX 718-34           Codex Committee on Pesticide         13-18 May                   The Hague
                       Residues (34th Session)
  CX 722-25           Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery  3-7 June                    Bergen
                       Products (25th Session)
  CX 702-49           Executive Committee of the Codex     26-28 June                  Rome
                       Alimentarius Commission (49th
                       Session)
 

Attachment 4

Definitions for the Purpose of Codex Alimentarius

    Words and phrases have specific meanings when used by the Codex 
Alimentarius. For the purposes of Codex, the following definitions 
apply:
    1. Food means any substance, whether processed, semi-processed or 
raw, which is intended for human consumption, and includes drink, 
chewing gum, and any substance which has been used in the manufacture, 
preparation or treatment of ``food'' but does not include cosmetics or 
tobacco or substances used only as drugs.
    2. Food hygiene comprises conditions and measures necessary for the 
production, processing, storage and distribution of food designed to 
ensure a safe, sound, wholesome product fit for human consumption.
    3. Food additive means any substance not normally consumed as a 
food by itself and not normally used as a typical ingredient of the 
food, whether or not it has nutritive value, the intentional addition 
of which to food for a technological (including organoleptic) purpose 
in the manufacture, processing, preparation, treatment, packing, 
packaging, transport, or holding of such food results, or may be 
reasonably expected to result, (directly or indirectly) in it or its 
by-products becoming a component of or otherwise affecting the 
characteristics of such foods. The food additive term does not include 
``contaminants'' or substances added to food for maintaining or 
improving nutritional qualities.
    4. Contaminant means any substance not intentionally added to food, 
which is present in such food as a result of the production (including 
operations carried out in crop husbandry, animal husbandry, and 
veterinary medicine), manufacture, processing, preparation, treatment, 
packing, packaging, transport or holding of such food or as a result of 
environmental contamination. The term does not include insect 
fragments, rodent hairs and other extraneous matters.
    5. Pesticide means any substance intended for preventing, 
destroying, attracting, repelling, or controlling any pest including 
unwanted species of plants or animals during the production, storage, 
transport, distribution and processing of food, agricultural 
commodities, or animal feeds or which may be administered to animals 
for the control of ectoparasites. The term includes substances intended 
for use as a plant-growth regulator, defoliant, desiccant, fruit 
thinning agent, or sprouting inhibitor and substances applied to crops 
either before of after harvest to protect the commodity from 
deterioration during storage and transport. The term pesticides 
excludes fertilizers, plant and animal nutrients, food additives, and 
animal drugs.
    6. Pesticide residue means any specified substance in food, 
agricultural commodities, or animal feed resulting from the use of a 
pesticide. The term includes any derivatives of a pesticide, such as 
conversion products, metabolites, reaction products, and impurities 
considered to be of toxological significance.
    7. Good Agricultural Practice in the Use of Pesticides (GAP) 
includes the nationally authorized safe uses of pesticides under actual 
conditions necessary for effective and reliable pest control. It 
encompasses a range of levels of pesticide applications up to the 
highest authorized use, applied in a manner that leaves a residue which 
is the smallest amount practicable.
    Authorized safe uses are determined at the national level and 
include nationally registered or recommended uses, which take into 
account public and occupational health and environmental safety 
considerations.
    Actual conditions include any stage in the production, storage, 
transport, distribution and processing of food commodities and animal 
feed.
    8. Codex Maximum Limit for Pesticide Residues (MRLP) is the maximum 
concentration of a pesticide residue (expressed as mg/kg), recommended 
by the Codex Alimentarius Commission to be legally permitted in or on 
food commodities and animal feeds. MRLPs are based on their toxological 
affects and on GAP data and foods derived from commodities that comply 
with the respective MRLPs are intended to be toxologically acceptable.
    Codex MRLPs, which are primarily intended to apply in international 
trade, are derived from reviews conducted by the JMPR following:
    (a) Toxological assessment of the pesticide and its residue, and
    (b) Review of residue data from supervised trials and supervised 
uses including those reflecting national good agricultural practices. 
Data from supervised trials conducted at the

[[Page 29544]]

highest nationally recommended, authorized, or registered uses are 
included in the review. In order to accommodate variations in national 
pest control requirements, Codex MRLPs take into account the higher 
levels shown to arise in such supervised trials, which are considered 
to represent effective pest control practices.
    Consideration of the various dietary residue intake estimates and 
determinations both at the national and international level in 
comparison with the ADI, should indicate that foods complying with 
Codex MRLPs are safe for human consumption.
    9. Veterinary Drug means any substance applied or administered to 
any food-producing animal, such as meat or milk-producing animals, 
poultry, fish or bees, whether used for therapeutic, prophylactic or 
diagnostic purposes or for modification of physiological functions or 
behavior.
    10. Residues of Veterinary Drugs include the parent compounds and/
or their metabolites in any edible portion of the animal product, and 
include residues of associated impurities of the veterinary drug 
concerned.
    11. Codex Maximum Limit for Residues of Veterinary Drugs (MRLVD) is 
the maximum concentration of residue resulting from the use of a 
veterinary drug (expressed in mg/kg or (g/kg on a fresh weight basis) 
that is recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission to be legally 
permitted or recognized as acceptable in or on food.
    An MRLVD is based on the type and amount of residue considered to 
be without any toxological hazard for human health as expressed by the 
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI), or on the basis of a temporary ADI that 
utilizes an additional safety factor. An MRLVD also takes into account 
other relevant public health risks as well as food technological 
aspects.
    When establishing an MRLVD, consideration is also given to residues 
that occur in food of plant origin and/or the environment. Furthermore, 
the MRLVD may be reduced to be consistent with good practices in the 
use of veterinary drugs and to the extent that practical and analytical 
methods are available.
    12. Good Practice in the Use of Veterinary Drugs (GPVD) is the 
official recommended or authorized usage including withdrawal periods 
approved by national authorities, of veterinary drugs under practicable 
conditions.
    13. Processing Aid means any substance or material, not including 
apparatus or utensils, not consumed as a food ingredient by itself, 
intentionally used in the processing of raw materials, foods or its 
ingredients, to fulfill a certain technological purpose during 
treatment or processing and which may result in the non-intentional but 
unavoidable presence of residues or derivatives in the final product.

Definitions of Risk Analysis Terms Related to Food Safety

    Hazard: A biological, chemical or physical agent in, or condition 
of, food with the potential to cause an adverse health effect.
    Risk: A function of the probability of an adverse health effect and 
the severity of that effect, consequential to a hazard(s) in food.
    Risk analysis: A process consisting of three components: risk 
assessment, risk management and risk communication.
    Risk assessment: A scientifically based process consisting of the 
following steps: (i) Hazard identification, (ii) hazard 
characterization, (iii) exposure assessment, and (iv) risk 
characterization.
    Hazard identification: The identification of biological, chemical, 
and physical agents capable of causing adverse health effects and which 
may be present in a particular food or group of foods.
    Hazard characterization: The qualitative and/or quantitative 
evaluation of the nature of the adverse health effects associated with 
biological, chemical and physical agents that may be present in food. 
For chemical agents, a dose-response assessment should be performed. 
For biological or physical agents, a dose-response assessment should be 
performed if the data are obtainable.
    Dose-response assessment: The determination of the relationship 
between the magnitude of exposure (dose) to a chemical, biological or 
physical agent and the severity and/or frequency of associated adverse 
health effects (response).
    Exposure assessment: The qualitative and/or quantitative evaluation 
of the likely intake of biological, chemical, and physical agents via 
food as well as exposures from other sources if relevant.
    Risk characterization: The qualitative and/or quantitative 
estimation, including attendant uncertainties, of the probability of 
occurrence and severity of known or potential adverse health effects in 
a given population based on hazard identification, hazard 
characterization and exposure assessment.
    Risk management: The process, distinct from risk assessment, of 
weighing policy alternatives, in consultation with all interested 
parties, considering risk assessment and other factors relevant for the 
health protection of consumers and for the promotion of fair trade 
practices, and, if needed, selecting appropriate prevention and control 
options.
    Risk communication: The interactive exchange of information and 
opinions throughout the risk analysis process concerning risk, related 
risk factors and risk perceptions, among risk assessors, risk managers, 
consumers, industry, the academic community and other interested 
parties, including the explanation of risk assessment findings and the 
basis of risk management decisions.

Attachment 5

Part 1

Uniform Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex Standards and Related 
Texts

Steps 1, 2 and 3
    (1) The Commission decides, taking into account the ``Criteria for 
the Establishment of Work Priorities and for the Establishment of 
Subsidiary Bodies,'' to elaborate a Worldwide Codex Standard and also 
decides which subsidiary body or other body should undertake the work. 
A decision to elaborate a Worldwide Codex Standard may also be taken by 
subsidiary bodies of the Commission in accordance with the above-
mentioned criteria, subject to subsequent approval by the Commission or 
its Executive Committee at the earliest possible opportunity. In the 
case of Codex Regional Standards, the Commission shall base its 
decision on the proposal of the majority of members belonging to a 
given region or group of countries submitted at a session of the Codex 
Alimentarius Commission.
    (2) The Secretariat arranges for the preparation of a proposed 
draft standard. In the case of Maximum Limits for Residues of 
Pesticides or Veterinary Drugs, the Secretariat distributes the 
recommendations for maximum limits, when available from the Joint 
Meetings of the FAO Panel of Experts on Pesticide Residues in Food and 
the Environment and the WHO Panel of Experts on Pesticide Residues 
(JMPR), or the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives 
(JECFA). In the cases of milk and milk products or individual standards 
for cheeses, the Secretariat distributes the recommendations of the 
International Dairy Federation (IDF).
    (3) The proposed draft standard is sent to members of the 
Commission and interested international organizations for comment on 
all aspects including

[[Page 29545]]

possible implications of the proposed draft standard for their economic 
interests.
Step 4
    The comments received are sent by the Secretariat to the subsidiary 
body or other body concerned which has the power to consider such 
comments and to amend the proposed draft standard.
Step 5
    The proposed draft standard is submitted through the Secretariat to 
the Commission or to the Executive Committee with a view to its 
adoption as a draft standard. When making any decision at this step, 
the Commission or the Executive Committee will give due consideration 
to any comments that may be submitted by any of its members regarding 
the implications which the proposed draft standard or any provisions of 
the standard may have for their economic interests. In the case of 
Regional Standards, all members of the Commission may present their 
comments, take part in the debate and propose amendments, but only the 
majority of the Members of the region or group of countries concerned 
attending the session can decide to amend or adopt the draft. When 
making any decisions at this step, the members of the region or group 
of countries concerned will give due consideration to any comments that 
may be submitted by any of the members of the Commission regarding the 
implications which the proposed draft standard or any provisions of the 
proposed draft standard may have for their economic interests.
Step 6
    The draft standard is sent by the Secretariat to all members and 
interested international organizations for comment on all aspects, 
including possible implications of the draft standard for their 
economic interests.
Step 7
    The comments received are sent by the Secretariat to the subsidiary 
body or other body concerned, which has the power to consider such 
comments and amend the draft standard.
Step 8
    The draft standard is submitted through the Secretariat to the 
Commission together with any written proposals received from members 
and interested international organizations for amendments at Step 8 
with a view to its adoption as a Codex Standard. In the case of 
Regional standards, all members and interested international 
organizations may present their comments, take part in the debate and 
propose amendments but only the majority of members of the region or 
group of countries concerned attending the session can decide to amend 
and adopt the draft.

Part 2

Uniform Accelerated Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex Standards 
and Related Texts

Steps 1, 2 and 3
    (1) The Commission or the Executive Committee between Commission 
sessions, on the basis of a two-thirds majority of votes cast, taking 
into account the ``Criteria for the Establishment of Work Priorities 
and for the Establishment of Subsidiary Bodies'', shall identify those 
standards which shall be the subject of an accelerated elaboration 
process. The identification of such standards may also be made by 
subsidiary bodies of the Commission, on the basis of a two-thirds 
majority of votes cast, subject to confirmation at the earliest 
opportunity by the Commission or its Executive Committee by a two-
thirds majority of votes cast.
    (2) The Secretariat arranges for the preparation of a proposed 
draft standard. In the case of Maximum Limits for Residues of 
Pesticides or Veterinary Drugs, the Secretariat distributes the 
recommendations for maximum limits, when available from the Joint 
Meetings of the FAO Panel of Experts on Pesticide Residues in Food and 
the Environment and the WHO Panel of Experts on Pesticide Residues 
(JMPR), or the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives 
(JECFA). In the cases of milk and milk products or individual standards 
for cheeses, the Secretariat distributes the recommendations of the 
International Dairy Federation (IDF).
    (3) The proposed draft standard is sent to Members of the 
Commission and interested international organizations for comment on 
all aspects including possible implications of the proposed draft 
standard for their economic interests. When standards are subject to an 
accelerated procedure, this fact shall be notified to the Members of 
the Commission and the interested international organizations.
Step 4
    The comments received are sent by the Secretariat to the subsidiary 
body or other body concerned which has the power to consider such 
comments and to amend the proposed draft standard.
Step 5
    In the case of standards identified as being subject to an 
accelerated elaboration procedure, the draft standard is submitted 
through the Secretariat to the Commission together with any written 
proposals received from Members and interested international 
organizations for amendments with a view to its adoption as a Codex 
standard. In taking any decision at this step, the Commission will give 
due consideration to any comments that may be submitted by any of its 
Members regarding the implications which the proposed draft standard or 
any provisions thereof may have for their economic interests.

Attachment 6

Nature of Codex Standards

    Codex standards contain requirements for food aimed at ensuring for 
the consumer a sound, wholesome food product free from adulteration, 
and correctly labelled. A Codex standard for any food or foods should 
be drawn up in accordance with the Format for Codex Commodity Standards 
and contain, as appropriate, the criteria listed therein.

Format for Codex Commodity Standards Including Standards Elaborated 
Under the Code of Principles Concerning Milk and Milk Products

Introduction

    The format is also intended for use as a guide by the subsidiary 
bodies of the Codex Alimentarius Commission in presenting their 
standards, with the object of achieving, as far as possible, a uniform 
presentation of commodity standards. The format also indicates the 
statements which should be included in standards as appropriate under 
the relevant headings of the standard. The sections of the format 
required to be completed for a standard are only those provisions that 
are appropriate to an international standard for the food in question.

Name of the Standard, Scope, Description, Essential Composition and 
Quality Factors, Food Additives, Contaminants, Hygiene, Weights and 
Measures Labelling, Methods of Analysis and Sampling

Format for Codex Standards

Name of the Standard
    The name of the standard should be clear and as concise as 
possible. It should usually be the common name by which the food 
covered by the standard is known or, if more than one food is

[[Page 29546]]

dealt with in the standard, by a generic name covering them all. If a 
fully informative title is inordinately long, a subtitle could be 
added.
Scope
    This section should contain a clear, concise statement as to the 
food or foods to which the standard is applicable unless the name of 
the standard clearly and concisely identifies the food or foods. A 
generic standard covering more than one specific product should clearly 
identify the specific products to which the standard applies.
Description
    This section should contain a definition of the product or products 
with an indication, where appropriate, of the raw materials from which 
the product or products are derived and any necessary references to 
processes of manufacture. The description may also include references 
to types and styles of product and to type of pack. The description may 
also include additional definitions when these additional definition 
are required to clarify the meaning of the standard.
Essential Composition and Quality Factors
    This section should contain all quantitative and other requirements 
as to composition including, where necessary, identity characteristics, 
provisions on packing media and requirements as to compulsory and 
optional ingredients. It should also include quality factors that are 
essential for the designation, definition, or composition of the 
product concerned. Such factors could include the quality of the raw 
material, with the object of protecting the health of the consumer, 
provisions on taste, odor, color, and texture which may be apprehended 
by the senses, and basic quality criteria for the finished products, 
with the object of preventing fraud. This section may refer to 
tolerances for defects, such as blemishes or imperfect material, but 
this information should be contained in appendix to the standard or in 
another advisory text.
Food Additives
    This section should contain the names of the additives permitted 
and, where appropriate, the maximum amount permitted in the food. It 
should be prepared in accordance with guidance given on page 93 of the 
Codex Procedural Manual and may take the following form:
    ``The following provisions in respect of food additives and their 
specifications as contained in section. . . . . . . .of the Codex 
Alimentarius are subject to endorsement [have been endorsed] by the 
Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants.''
    A tabulation should then follow, viz.:
    ``Name of additive, maximum level (in percentage or mg/kg).''
Contaminants
    (a) Pesticide Residues: This section should include, by reference, 
any levels for pesticide residues that have been established by the 
Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues for the product concerned.
    (b) Other Contaminants: In addition, this section should contain 
the names of other contaminants and where appropriate the maximum level 
permitted in the food, and the text to appear in the standard may take 
the following form:
    ``The following provisions in respect of contaminants, other than 
pesticide residues, are subject to endorsement [have been endorsed] by 
the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants.''
    A tabulation should then follow, viz.:
    ``Name of contaminant, maximum level (in percentage or mg/kg).''
Hygiene
    Any specific mandatory hygiene provisions considered necessary 
should be included in this section. They should be prepared in 
accordance with the guidance given on page 95 of the Codex Procedural 
Manual. Reference should also be made to applicable codes of hygienic 
practice. Any parts of such codes, including in particular any end-
product specifications, should be set out in the standard, if it is 
considered necessary that they should be made mandatory. The following 
statement should also appear:
    ``The following provisions in respect of the food hygiene of the 
product are subject to endorsement [have been endorsed] by the Codex 
Committee on Food Hygiene.''
Weights and Measures
    This section should include all provisions, other than labelling 
provisions, relating to weights and measures, e.g. where appropriate, 
fill of container, weight, measure or count of units determined by an 
appropriate method of sampling and analysis. Weights and measures 
should be expressed in S.I. units. In the case of standards which 
include provisions for the sale of products in standardized amounts, 
e.g. multiples of 100 grams, S.I. units should be used, but this would 
not preclude additional statements in the standards of these 
standardized amounts in approximately similar amounts in other systems 
of weights and measures.
Labelling
    This section should include all the labelling provisions contained 
in the standard and should be prepared in accordance with the guidance 
given on page 92 of the Codex Procedural Manual. Provisions should be 
included by reference to the General Standard for the Labelling of 
Prepackaged Foods. The section may also contain provisions which are 
exemptions from, additions to, or which are necessary for the 
interpretation of the General Standard in respect of the product 
concerned provided that these can be justified fully. The following 
statement should also appear:
    ``The following provisions in respect of the labelling of this 
product are subject to endorsement [have been endorsed] by the Codex 
Committee on Food Labelling.''
Methods of Analysis and Sampling
    This section should include, either specifically or by reference, 
all methods of analysis and sampling considered necessary and should be 
prepared in accordance with the guidance given on page 95 of the Codex 
Procedural Manual. If two or more methods have been proved to be 
equivalent by the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling, 
these could be regarded as alternative and included in this section 
either specifically or by reference. The following statement should 
also appear:
    ``The methods of analysis and sampling described hereunder are to 
be endorsed [have been endorsed] by the Codex Committee on Methods of 
Analysis and Sampling.''

[FR Doc. 01-12938 Filed 5-30-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P